U.S. patent number 5,154,420 [Application Number 07/806,371] was granted by the patent office on 1992-10-13 for game apparatus.
Invention is credited to Leroy H. Gutknecht.
United States Patent |
5,154,420 |
Gutknecht |
October 13, 1992 |
Game apparatus
Abstract
A game apparatus which utilizes a representation of a coin with
this coin being divided into a central member and an outer member
with this central member being centrally mounted within the outer
member. Both the central member and the outer member are capable of
being revolved on separate revolving axes. The revolving is
initiated substantially simultaneously and is stopped
simultaneously with the result that the coin can assume any one of
four positions, a heads, a tails, a head-tails and a tails-heads.
The player is to guess at what position the coin will assume after
revolving of the inner member and the outer member and, if the
player is correct, a certain pre-established payout arrangement
will be granted to the player.
Inventors: |
Gutknecht; Leroy H. (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Family
ID: |
25193896 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/806,371 |
Filed: |
December 13, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17;
463/22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
5/04 (20130101); G07F 17/32 (20130101); G07F
17/3267 (20130101); A63F 2009/0417 (20130101); A63F
2250/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
5/04 (20060101); G07F 17/32 (20060101); A63F
9/04 (20060101); A63F 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/138A,142HA,142H,143R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Layno; Benjamin H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Munro; Jack C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The game apparatus comprising: housing;
a representation of a coin, said coin having a pair of opposite
parallel planar surfaces, said coin constructed of a central member
and an outer member, said outer member being ring shaped forming a
central opening, said inner member being located within said
central opening;
first means for revolving said central member on a first axis in a
first direction;
second means for revolving said outer member on a second axis in a
second direction;
indicia represented on said surfaces, said indicia cooperating
between said central member and said outer member to represent a
heads and a tails plus a tails-heads and a head-tails;
stopping means connected to said coin, said stopping means to
terminate the revolving of said central member and said outer
member so as to align said planar surfaces of said coin; and
both said first axis and said second axis being parallel to said
planar surfaces of said coin.
2. The game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:
said first axis coincides with said second axis.
3. The game apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein:
the revolving of said first member being substantially simultaneous
with the revolving of said second member.
4. The game apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein:
said second direction being opposite said first direction.
5. The game apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein:
said central member being revolved at a speed which is different
than the speed of revolving of said outer member.
6. The game apparatus comprising: housing;
a representation of a coin, said coin having a pair of opposite
parallel planar surfaces, said coin constructed of a central member
and an outer member, said outer member being ring shaped forming a
central opening, said inner member being located within said
central opening;
first means for revolving said central member on a first axis in a
first direction;
second means for revolving said outer member on a second axis in a
second direction;
indicia represented on said surfaces, said indicia cooperating
between said central member and said outer member to represent a
heads and a tails plus a tails-heads and a head-tails;
stopping means connected to said coin, said stopping means to
terminate the revolving of said central member and said outer
member so as to align said planar surfaces of said coin; and
selection means mounted on said housing, said selection means
permitting manual selection of the position of said indicia at
termination of the revolving of said central member and said outer
member.
7. The game apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein:
start means mounted on said housing, said start means initiating of
the revolving of said inner member and said outer member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The field of this invention relates to gaming apparatuses and more
particularly to a gaming apparatus which is designed to be used in
conjunction with gambling.
2) Description of Prior Art
Gambling is an exceedingly common form of entertainment to a great
number of people. Well known gambling areas within the United
States are Las Vegas, Nev. and Atlantic City, N.J. Players tend to
like games that provide a chance of "winning big", exciting to
play, simple to play, utilize a reasonable amount of thinking
ability and have a high payout ratio. For the casino, desireable
games are games that are fast so that the game can be played
repeatedly in a very short period of time with each play only
taking a matter of a few seconds.
Casinos long have utilized machines to be operated by the players
themselves obviating the need for dealers. An exceedingly common
form of such machines are referred to as "slot machines". Slot
machines do not require the need of a dealer and permit the player
to play at his or her pace at the particular machine.
It used to be that slot machines utilized only a plurality of
rotating tumblers with indicia such as cherries, lemons, oranges
and other fruit being represented on the tumblers. When the same
type of fruit is in alignment at a horizontal or diagonal line, the
slot machine pays of a winning amount.
Within recent years, the concept of the slot machine has been
expanded to be utilized with other types of games. For example,
machines have been utilized to play blackjack and poker. Such
machines have proved to be readily accepted since the blackjack and
poker can be played at wagering levels substantially less than what
would be required at a table for such a game where a dealer is
utilized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to construct a
slot machine type of game which utilizes a different concept than
rotating tumblers which is commonly used in conjunction with such
machines.
Another objective of the present invention is to produce a game
which is simple to play by both the player and the casino, fast to
play and exciting to play.
Another objective of the present invention is to construct a gaming
device that can be played quickly thereby permitting a
substantially great number of plays that can be played within a
rather short period of time.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gaming
device that is fast, exciting, entertaining, simple to play,
challenging, has a potentially high payout level and a potentially
high top end award.
The game of the present invention utilizes a housing with the
housing including a coin insert slot and a start button. Activation
of the start button initiates random motion of the machine which
revolves in opposite directions a central member of a coin
representation relative to a ring shaped outer member which also
forms in part the representation of the coin. The revolving motion
of the coin can be stopped in any one of four positions. Each
position is represented by a separate button mounted on the
exterior of the housing. Upon the player pressing one of those
buttons for a particular indicia representation and the coin
displays that position, the player will receive a payout according
to a predetermined payout schedule.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a front view of the game apparatus of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the game apparatus of the
present invention taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the
revolving stopping structure for the central member of the coin
representation included within the gaming apparatus of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the gaming apparatus of the present
invention taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in the same direction as
FIG. 2 but showing the stopping mechanism associated with
terminating the revolving of the ring-shaped outer member of the
coin representation;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4
showing clearly the structural arrangement between the central
member and the outer member of the coin representation;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along 6--6 of FIG. 5 showing
further details of the structural arrangement between the central
member and the outer member of the coin representation; and
FIGS. 7a through 7d depict the different indicias for the coin
representation utilized in conjunction with the gaming apparatus of
this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENT
Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1
the exterior front panel of the gaming apparatus 10 of this
invention. Gaming apparatus 10 includes a sheet material, normally
metallic, housing 12 which is composed of a bottom panel 14 to
which is attached and extending upwardly therefrom a right side
panel 16, a left side panel 18 and a back panel 20. The front panel
is composed of a display sign 22 which is fixedly mounted on front
cross brace 24 which is mounted between the side panels 16 and 18.
The front panel also includes recessed center panel 26 which has an
enlarged recess 28. The front panel also includes an inclined base
30 which is to be located against a supporting surface 32 such as a
table. Attached to the upper edge of the inclined base 30 is a main
panel 34. The recessed center panel 26 rests against the upper edge
of the main panel 34.
Mounted within the inclined base 30 are a series of actuating
buttons 36, 38, 40 and 42. Each of the buttons 36 to 42 are
individually pressable. Button 36 has indicia on its outer surface
resembling the head of a coin. Button 42 has indicia on its outer
surface resembling the tail of a coin. Button 38 has indicia on its
outer surface resembling a combination of heads and tails, while
button 40 has indicia on its outer surface resembling the
combination of tails and heads.
Within the main panel 34 is located a coin slot 44. A pressable
start button 46 is also mounted in the main panel 34. Imprinted on
the main panel 34 are a series of instructions 48.
The display sign 22 displays a payout schedule 50. This payout
schedule 50 is to represent to the player of the game the number of
coins that can be won upon achieving a win for each coin played and
what can be won if repetitive wins are obtained.
Suspended within the enlarged recess 28 is a representation of a
coin 52. This coin 52 is composed of a central (inner) member 54
which is basically in the configuration of a disc. The central
member 54 is located within a circular shaped opening 56 which is
centrally located within an outer member 58. The outer member 58 is
basically ring shaped. Connected to the outer member 58 is a shaft
60. Shaft 60 is mounted by ball bearing assembly 62 within left
side wall 18. The outer end of shaft 60 has fixedly mounted thereon
a pulley 64.
Shaft 60 is fixedly secured to outer member 58 by means of a pin
66. The end of shaft 60 includes a recess 68 within which is
mounted a bearing assembly 70. Mounted within the bearing assembly
70 is an outer end of a shaft 72. The shaft 72 is to be freely
rotatable by bearing assembly 70 relative to shaft 60. Shaft 72 has
an axis 74 of rotation which coincides with the axis 76 axis of
rotation of shaft 60.
Shaft 72 is fixedly mounted by pin 78 to central member 54. Shaft
72 is supportingly mounted by bearing assembly 80 within the right
side panel 16. Fixedly mounted on the outer end of the shaft 72 is
a pulley 82. Shaft 72 is also conducted through the outer member 58
and is low frictionally supported thereto by means of a bearing
84.
Belt 86 connects pulley 64 to a drive pulley 88. Drive pulley 88 is
rotated by means of a motor mounted within motor housing 90. Belt
92 is mounted on pulley 82 and is also connected to a drive pulley
94. Drive pulley 94 is rotated by means of a motor (not shown)
mounted within motor housing 96. Motors contained within motor
housing 90 and 96 are to be simultaneously actuated when button 46
is pressed. This in turn causes shaft 60 to be driven in one
direction and shaft 72 to be driven in the opposite direction. It
is to be noticed that pulley 82 is of a lesser diameter than pulley
64. This will cause the central member 54 to be revolved not only
in the reverse direction relative to outer member 58, but also at a
different speed and actually at a faster speed. This is desireable
since human beings, who would be playing the game, can become quite
good at calculating exactly when a certain heads-tails combination
might be displayed. Therefore, the fact that central member 54
revolves at a much faster rate than outer member 58, it becomes
almost impossible for a human being to make a precise guess as to
what combination will be displayed.
The coin 52 is basically in the shape of a large size currency
coin. These coins are known to have configurations on each side and
it is common for one configuration to be termed heads and the other
configuration to be termed tails. Probably the heads comes from the
representation on the front side of the coin of the head of a human
being and tails probably comes from logically then saying that the
opposite side of the coin would be tails.
Referring particularly to FIG. 7a, there is shown the front side of
the coin with the word heads and the head of a human being along
with a couple of olive branches. Referring particularly to FIG. 7d
there is depicted the tail side of the coin with the word tails and
an eagle shown on a perch. Besides the heads and tails
configurations that can be obtained, the position of the outer
member 58 could be in the heads position with the central member 54
being in the tails position as shown in FIG. 7b. Also, the outer
member 58 could be in the tails configuration with the central
member 54 in the heads configuration. Therefore, there are four
possibilities and only those four possibilities obtained when
operating the gaming apparatus 10 of this invention.
When the central member 54 and the outer member 58 are revolved
relative to each other, and the operator pushes either button 36,
38, 40 or 42, the operation of the gaming apparatus 10 will be
deactivated and the central member 54 and the outer member 58 will
be stopped. When being stopped, it is important that the central
member 54 precisely display either a heads or tails and also the
outer member 58 precisely display either heads or tails. In order
to achieve this precise displaying, a mechanism is required which
will now be explained.
Fixedly mounted on shaft 60 in between the outer member 58 and the
bearing assembly 62 is a wheel 98. Wheel 98 includes a pair of
slots 100, these slots 100 being located one hundred eighty degrees
(diametrically spaced) apart relative to the shaft 60. Associated
with each slot 100 is an indented cam surface 102 with there being
a separate cam surface 102 for each slot 100. Connectable with the
slot 102 is an arm 104. Arm 104 is mounted by bolts 106 onto an arm
108. Each bolt 106 connects with an elongated slot 110 with there
being a separate slot 110 for each bolt 106. Also formed within the
body of each of the arms 104 and 108 is a rectangular shaped hole
112. Mounted within hole 112 is a coil spring 114. The purpose of
the spring 114 is that when the arm 104 falls within a slot 102 for
the purpose of stopping rotation of the wheel 98, there is a
certain amount of momentum. This momentum is absorbed by this
spring 114 which permits the wheel 98 to move a slight distance in
its direction of rotation shown by arrows 116 in FIG. 4. The amount
of this continued movement is determined by the length of the slots
110.
What occurs is the arm 104 is picked up and in essence is carried
by the wheel 98 a short distance compressing the spring 114. When
the wheel 98 is completely stopped, the spring 114 will now expand
back to its original position which will result in outer member 58
being oriented precisely in either a heads position or a tails
position. It is to be understood that one of the slots 102 will
orient the outer member 58 in the heads position while the other
slot 102 will orient the outer member 58 in the tails position. The
reason for the cam surface 102 associated with each slot 100 is so
that the arm 104 will slide into the slot 104 gradually otherwise
it might just slip over the slot 100.
The arm 104 has an at-rest position tending to press the arm 104
against the periphery of the wheel 98 and thereby will engage with
a slot 100 as the wheel 98 rotates. This at-rest position is
provided by a spring 118 which is mounted between a bracket 120 and
an arm 122. Bracket 120 is fixedly mounted to a mounting plate 124.
The mounting plate 124 is mounted across the top of the housing 12
and is fixedly mounted to both the right side panel 16 and the left
side panel 18.
A portion of the arm 108 extends through a slot 126 formed within
the mounting plate 124. The arm 122 is actually bifurcated with arm
108 being located within the gap area between the spaced apart leg
members of the bifurcated arm 122. A pivot connection between the
arm 122 and the arm 108 is provided by means of a pin 128. Arm 108
is mounted on a sleeve 130. Sleeve 130 is located on a pivot rod
132. Arm 122 is connected to a bracket 134 by means of a pin 136.
Bracket 136 is connected to the actuating member 138 of a solenoid
140. The solenoid 140 is mounted on the mounting plate 124. The
solenoid 140 can be activated to retract from the position shown in
FIG. 4 which will result in spring 118 moving to an extended
position and arm 122 moving to the right (as shown in FIG. 4) a
distance of approximately half an inch. This activation is to occur
when start button 46 is pressed. This causes the arm 108 to pivot
about pivot rod 132 which causes the arm 104 to move to a displaced
position disengaging from a slot 100. This now permits free
rotation of the outer member 58.
When one of the buttons 36, 38, 40 and 42 are pressed, the motors
contained within the motor housings 90 and 92 are deactivated as
well as the solenoid 140. This permits the bias of the spring 118
to then cause the arm 122 to move in a leftward direction, as shown
in FIG. 4, which in turn will cause the arm 108 to pivot
counterclockwise. This will result in the arm 104 coming into
contact with the periphery of the wheel 98. As the wheel 98
continues to rotate it only takes a few degrees of rotation for arm
104 to engage with one of the cam surfaces 102 and then hence
engage with the slot 100. Hence the outer member 58 is now randomly
stopped at either the heads or tails position.
In a similar manner to the previous, there is mounted a solenoid
142 on the mounting plate 124 with this solenoid 142 having an
actuating member 144. Solenoid 142 is to be activated
simultaneously with solenoid 140. Connected with the actuating
member 144 is a bracket 146 which is connected by means of a pin
148 to bifurcated arm 150. Arm 150 is pivotally connected by means
of a pin 152 to an arm 154. Arm 154 is mounted on a sleeve 156
which is pivotally mounted on a pivot rod 158. The outer end of the
arm 150 is connected to a coil spring 160 with spring 160 being
connected to bracket 162. Bracket 162 is fixedly mounted on
mounting plate 124. The pivot rod 158 is fixedly mounted to the
side panel 16. The pivot rod 132 is fixedly mounted on the side
panel 18.
It can thus be seen by activating of solenoid 142 spring 160 is
extended which causes the arm 154 to pivot about pivot rod 158 so
that arm 164 is disengaged from a slot 166. It is to be understood
that there are two in number of the slots 166 formed within the
peripheral surface of a wheel 168. Wheel 168 is essentially
identical to wheel 98. Associated with each slot 166 is a cam
surface 170. Wheel 168 is rotatably driven in the direction of
arrow 172.
Connected between the arms 154 and 164 is a coil spring 174 which
is essentially identical to and operates in the same manner as coil
spring 114.
The wheel 168 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 72 by means of a pin
176. The position of the wheel 168 is to be such that when the arm
164 engages with the slot 166 that the central member 54 is located
in either a heads or tails position. The exact same thing is true
for wheel 98 which is mounted by pin 178 on shaft 60.
To strengthen the housing 12, mounted on the bottom panel 14 is an
elongated bracing panel 180. One end of the bracing panel 180 is
fixedly mounted to right side panel 16 with the opposite end of the
bracing panel 180 being fixedly mounted to the left side panel
18.
Mounted between mounting plate 124 and front cross brace 24 is a
light reflecting shield 182. Mounted within the interior of the
shield 182 is a fluorescent light bulb 184. This light bulb 184 is
connected to electrical contacts 186. Normally the light bulb 184
will be operated continuously and is for the purpose of clearly
illuminating coin 52.
It is to be understood that there will be included appropriate
micro switches and appropriate electrical circuitry to ensure that,
when the motors contained within motor housings 90 and 96 are
operated that simultaneously, that the solenoid 140 and 142 are
also operated. This circuitry is also designed to be deactivated at
the time one of the buttons 36, 38, 40 or 42 is pressed and at
which time the solenoid 140 and 142 are deactivated along with the
motors contained within each motor housing 90 and 96.
* * * * *